Letter: Frank Holtz. Leesburg

Editor: We hear every day about the problem of veteran suicide. The men and women who serve and sacrifice for us deserve the care they need for dealing with the aftermath of their tours of duty.

The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Bill was passed last year to address these challenges, and was signed into law by President Obama. This issue is one so critical, and I’m glad Congress is taking action. Our veterans deserve the best possible treatment, and it is important that our lawmakers understand how crucial mental health treatment is for our veterans.

A recent estimate by the Veterans Administration found that as many as 22 veterans commit suicide every day. This is unacceptable, and progress like the Clay Hunt Bill will start to alleviate some of these issues. I know this is just one step down a long road, and Congresswoman Comstock and other lawmakers are working on more steps to improve and strengthen the VA and services for our veterans, who deserve top-notch care and resources.

As a veteran myself, I was pleased to see that she has supported many other veterans-related initiatives. She was a key cosponsor of the Hire More Heroes Act, which helps veterans who return from war find jobs. She also co-sponsored the SALUTE Act, which assists veterans in overcoming addiction.

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